hereick



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. B. HERRIGK.

ELECTRIC METER.

No. 461,575. Patented. Oct. 20, 1891.

@51 Grief/1 101 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. B. HERRIGK. ELECTRIC METER.

No. 461,575. Patented 0013.20, 1891.

awvewtoz WHMQ/a, as am MM UNITED STATES ALBERT l3. HERRICK, OF NEW YORK,

PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRIC METER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 461,575, dated October20, 1891.

Application filed October 16, 1890- Serial No. 363,332- (No model.)

To LLZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT B. IIERRICK, a

' citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the countyand State of New York, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Electrical Indicators, of which the following is aspecification.

My improvement is especially adapted for indicators in which'a pointeror index-hand is moved over a scale by changes in a line current, and ina system in which it is desired to make a record of the current atregular intervals, as will be hereinafter set forth.

The invention consists in certain apparatus and combinations of devicesfor marking the indications of the instrument 011 a suit able surface,in an instrument of the character indicated, and for reducing the powerrequired to move the pointer or recording-hand.

The features of invention will be set forth in the several claims at theend of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a face view of an ammeter embodying theinvention, and Fig. 2 is a side View of the same with the inclosing caseremoved.

1 is a clock-work mechanism or other motor, which turns the cylinder 2at a uniform rate, which in the apparatus illustrated is onceintwenty-four hours. Supported on said cylinder is a paper sheet, whichmay be suitably ruled for receiving the record.

3 3 are bobbins, one at either end of the cylinder and adjacent to itsperiphery, which hold an ink-ribbon or similar device 4, and this ribbonmay be fed from one bobbin to the other by means of the thumb-pieces 5when necessary to bring a fresh section of the ribbon into operativeposition. Over the ribbon is preferably placed an index-plate 6, with aslot 7, which is an arc of a circle having its center at the pivot 8 ofthe index-hand or pointer 9. Near the end of the pointer on its underside, and in line with the slot, is a marking-point 9. To this pointeris connected an armature for the solenoid or coil 10 by means of an arm11. As shown, said coil is composed of a heavy conducting-rod bent toform asingle spiral of a suitable nu mber of turns, and is adapted to beconnected to the main circuit by connectors 12. The

coil and armature form segments of circles,

the latter moving in the former, as is well understood by those familiarwith this class of instruments.

13 is a magnet. supported near the drum and having an armature 11, whichis supported by the frame 15, pivoted at 16, and having aretracting-swing 17. This frame is provided with a cross-piece 18, whichextends over but not in contact with the index-hand, for the whole rangeof its movement, in a manner analogous to a construction heretofore usedin recordi n g-thermometers. Driven by the clockwork is a wheel orcircuit-controller19, having teeth, cams, or other devices so arrangedas to close or change the circuit through magnet 13 at regularintervals-say once a minute.

In the apparatus illustrated the teeth of the circuit-wheel connect wire20 leading from the magnet to the clock-work frame, which is connectedinany suitable manner to a source of current and to the other terminal ofthe magnet. I

The operation of the above-described apparatus is as follows: The clockis wound up and serves to move the recording-surface at a regular speed.At regular predetermined intervals-say of one min utecircuit-controller19 closes or changes the circuit of magnet 13, attracting its armatureand moving the frame 15 toward the drum, the cross-piece 18 strikingagainst the index-hand at whatever point on the scale it may be held atthat moment by the line current, and forcing the point 9 against theink-ribbon and said ribbon against the paper, whereby the current atthat particular moment is recorded. The circuit of the magnet is at oncerestored to its former condition at the circuit-controller, and theretracting spring returns the armature and frame to their position ofrest. At the expiration of another minute the above operation isrepeated, and so on through an entire revolution of the drum 2.

I'Ieretofore in recordirig-indicators it has been common to have therecording-point of the index-hand moved over the recording-surface incontinuous contact therewith; but this arrangement is objectionable,first, because it increases the power required to move the pointer backand forth over the scale, and, second, because the power thus requiredis not constant, but is changed by various causes affecting the frictionbetween the recordingpoint and the recording-surface, thus causingerrors in the record. In my apparatus the pointer is so mounted that itis perfectly free to move under the influence of current changes in theline and in solenoid 10, while at the same time the record can be madeat any moment, as already described.

I claim 1. The combination, in an electric meter, of arecording-surface, a hand carrying, a! recording-point, means for movingsaid hand over but not in contact with the recordingsurface by thecurrent to be measured, and a magnet, armature, circuit controller, anda time mechanism therefor for making a record periodically,substantially as described.

2. The combination, in an electric meter, of a recording-s11 rface, arecording-point movable over but out of contact with therecording-surface, a selenoid in the main line, an armature thereforconnected to and moving'the recording-point, and a circuit-controller,circuit, magnet, and armature for making arec- 0rd periodically,substantially as set forth.

The combination, in an electric meter, of a recording-surface, a handcarrying a recording-point movable over but out of contact with saidsurface, a coil carrying the current to be measured for moving saidhand, a bar or frame extending over the pointer throughout the range ofits movement, an armature connected to said bar, a magnet, a circuittherefor, and a circuit-controller, whereby the point may be pressedforward to make a record, substantially as described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 13th day of October, 1890.

- ALBERT B. IIERRIUK. Vtitnesses I. L. SALM HODGES, JOHN SAXELBYLOBB

